Alameda County Board of Supervisors Personnel, Administration, and Legislation (PAL) Committee
LEGISLATIVE POSITION REQUEST FORM
Submission deadline is noon on the Monday two weeks prior to the PAL meeting. See FAQ for additional instructions.
Title (Bill/Reg. No., Bill/Reg. Title, Author): N3 Ranch sale – Delegation funding request Version (Date amended): 01/06/2020 Position Requested: Informational Current Status of Bill/Regulation (Has the bill been A delegation of 17 Bay Area State Legislators has sent a letter to referred to committee, or set for hearing? If so, the Governor and Senate and Assembly leadership requesting when and what committee? Next hearing?) (Where $20 million in State funding to complete the funding package to relevant include comment period dates/deadlines): purchase the N3 Ranch property.
Alignment Shared Visions 10X Goals Operating Principles with Vision ☐ Thriving & Resilient Population ☐ Employment for All ☐ Collaboration 2026: ☐ Safe & Livable Communities ☐ Eliminate Homelessness ☐ Equity ☒ Healthy Environment ☐ Eliminate Poverty and Hunger ☒ Fiscal Stewardship ☒ Prosperous & Vibrant Economy ☐ Crime Free County ☐ Innovation
☐ Healthcare for All ☒ Sustainability ☐ Accessible Infrastructure ☐ Access
Alignment with Legislative Platform (i.e. “issue”/plank or Protecting water, natural resources and the general N/A if not in legislative platform) environment, mitigating climate change, and providing public access to open spaces. Summary (Summary of item, use Legislative Counsel’s Digest, Bill Analysis, or Bill Summary): The 17 member Legislative delegation is requesting $20 million in State funding to support the completion of a funding package to purchase the N3 Ranch property to designate and maintain it as open space. Non-profit conservation groups have secured commitments for more than half the cost. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to control critical open space. In July 2019 the largest single property ever listed for sale in California (50,000 acres) came on the market with a $72 million dollar asking price. The N3 Ranch as it is called is located in four counties – 8,000 acres in Alameda, 5,000 in San Joaquin, 20,000 in Santa Clara, and 7,000 in Stanislaus. It runs east-west from Corral Hollow near Tracy to the East Bay Regional Park District’s Del Valle reservoir. It runs north-south, past the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Calaveras and San Antonio reservoirs, and the EBRPD’s Sunol and Ohlone Regional Wilderness. It wraps up past the east side of Mission Peak. It nearly connects the unique habitats of Mount Diablo State Park to the unique habitats of Henry Coe State Park. It fills in a major chunk of a greenbelt stretching from the Delta to Gilroy. Eighty percent of the property, including 9,600 acres of the Alameda Creek watershed, captures drinking water for Bay Area residents and millions of Californians. With over 2 million tons of carbon sequestered, its varied habitats serve a critical niche for many protected species. At nearly 80 square miles, the N3 Ranch would rank among the five largest California State Parks and would establish a backcountry wilderness open to the public in a region of more than 7 million people, within an hour’s drive of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Stockton and Modesto. With more than 200 miles of established routes, visitors could enjoy a casual picnic stroll or begin a week long backpacking trip from a bus stop in Fremont. The 14 historic cabins could support a unique hut to-hut experience, in the heart of the Bay Area, similar to Yosemite's or those found in Europe.
Background of Bill: ☐ New bill ☐ Previously Introduced ☐ Amended ☐ Clean-Up Bill ☐ Gut and Amend ☐ Urgency Clause ☐ Similar to other current bills we have positions on
hoose an item. Seeking Amendments? Page 1 of 2 Form revision 01/09/2020 Alameda County Board of Supervisors Personnel, Administration, and Legislation (PAL) Committee
LEGISLATIVE POSITION REQUEST FORM
Previous Legislation: If YES, attach amendments. hoose an item. Do all other impacted agencies/departments concur? If YES, list each department and contact person. If NO, see FAQ.
Potential State/Federal Fiscal Impacts (include $ $20 million - Requesting amount from this year’s State surplus estimate): or that the $20 million be included in one of the resource bond bills currently active in the Legislature. Potential Net County Cost Impacts (include $ None estimate): Fiscal Impact: ☐ Adds revenue ☐ Unfunded mandate ☐ Cost savings ☐ Additional costs ☐ New/increased fees to offset costs ☐ Reduces or reduces fees ☐ Includes appropriation ☐ Minor impact – program absorption ☐ Redirects resources ☒ None of the above ☐ Changes fines/penalties
Potential Impacts to County Residents (Include specific data): If purchased and preserved as open space it would provide public access to the fifth largest park in California. It would also protect the watershed serving millions of bay area residents.
Potential Impacts to County Programs, Services, Operations or Departments (Be specific): Could impact usage (increases) of rural roads in eastern Alameda County closest to property access points.
Reporting Requirements: ☐ Requires one-time report/study ☐ Requires new reporting form(s) ☐ Requires annual report ☐ Requires amended reporting form(s) ☒ No reporting requirement
A coalition of 17 State Legislators from the impacted counties and the Bay Area. List Known Supporters: List Known Opposition: Requestor (who is asking for the County to take a position? e.g., agency/dept., association, organization)
Approved by Department Head CAO (Name/Date): Submitter (Name, Title, Dept.): Submission Date: 1/9/20 Theresa Rude CAO Analyst: Additional Comments:
For Internal CAO Use Only: Date Received: 01/09/20 Date to Analyst: 01/09/20 Date from Analyst: 01/09/20 Target PAL date: 01/13/20 CAO recommendation: Support
Page 2 of 2 Form revision 01/09/2020
From: Harmon, Steven
For Immediate Release: Contact: Steven Harmon Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 916-651-4007 (office) 916-539-5005 (mobile)
Press Release 17 Bay Area Caucus Members Urge Governor, Legislative Leaders to Provide Funding to Acquire N3 Ranch
SACRAMENTO – Senators Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, Steve Glazer, D-Orinda, and 15 other Bay Area legislators on Wednesday urged Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders to provide funding to help acquire the N3 Ranch in Alameda, Santa Clara, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and preserve it as public parkland.
“This once-in-a-generation opportunity would help create one of the largest parks in California, protect a crucial watershed, fight climate change and provide accessible backcountry wilderness to millions of Californians,” Senator Wieckowski said.
“This is a matter of urgent concern because this irreplaceable property is for sale now,” Senator Glazer said. “Non-profit conservation groups have assembled funding commitments that could finance more than half the cost. We need to move on this quickly.”
A $20 million appropriation from the state, if approved quickly, would complete the funding package and create one of the largest public parks in the state.
“Fortunately, The Nature Conservancy and The Trust for Public Lands – the nation’s two largest conservation organizations – have secured commitments to cover $30 million of the purchase price. Now is the time for the state to step up and make this happen,” the letter said.
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, D-Orinda, added: “The N3 Ranch property is a critical asset in the efforts to protect our open spaces and fight climate change – Californians deserve this opportunity to be provided clean air, clean water and access to parklands. I am proud to be working with my colleagues to preserve this natural treasure.”
The Bay Area Caucus members asked the governor and legislative leaders to dedicate the necessary money from the one-time surplus in this year’s state budget or include it in one of the resource bond bills currently moving through the Legislature.
At nearly 80 square miles, the N3 Ranch would rank among the five largest California State Parks and would establish a backcountry wilderness open to the public in a region of more than 7 million people, within an hour’s drive of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Stockton and Modesto. With more than 200 miles of established routes, visitors could enjoy a casual picnic stroll or begin a week-long backpacking trip from a bus stop in Fremont. The 14 historic cabins could support a unique hut-to-hut experience similar to Yosemite’s or those found in Europe but in the heart of the Bay Area.
Eighty percent of the property, including 9,600 acres of the Alameda Creek watershed, captures drinking water for Bay Area residents and millions of Californians. With over 2 million tons of carbon sequestered, its varied habitats serve a critical niche for many protected species.
The N3 Ranch was listed for sale in July 2019 for the first time in 85 years and has attracted purchase offers and interest from around the country and world. Immediate action will be necessary to secure the property as a public park for the people of California.
Signers to the letter: Senators Bob Wieckowski, Steve Glazer, Ana Caballero, Jerry Hill, Scott Wiener , Nancy Skinner, Cathleen Galgiani, Jim Beall, Bill Monning; Assemblymembers Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Rob Bonta, Bill Quirk, Buffy Wicks , Tim Grayson, David Chiu, Marc Levine, Marc Berman.
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• Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, D-Berkeley, said: “Preserving this land will protect what we know Californians care about: wildlife populations, the water we drink, and beautiful outdoor spaces where we can spend time with our families. At the same time, it will bolster California’s commitment to fighting climate change. Protecting public lands is a critical part of our state’s leadership on the climate crisis, and we must in turn treat this opportunity with the appropriate level of urgency.”
• Senator Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, added: “California now has a unique opportunity to help protect and preserve acres of ranchland and wilderness as a public park. This effort offers tremendous benefits for Californians now and in the future, for our environment and for the wildlife that make this beautiful area their home.”
• Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland): “I’m proud to support this effort to protect and preserve the N3 Ranch. This land comprises nearly 80 square miles and would provide exceptional new access to the great outdoors for millions of Californians in the Bay Area and Central Valley while also protecting vital watersheds and fighting climate change.
Please also see the attached for the N3 Letter to Governor Newsom and Legislative leaders.
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